Anyone have experience with Ruger American Predator 308/20" and or the Ruger American Compact 18" in 308?

[tkdguy]

Impressions? Build quality? Accuracy? Bugs? Thanks...

 

[WAYNO]

Yes. I've owned and/or shot multiple models of the American, in .308, 7.62x39, .30-06, and .223.

I've had no function issues.

My preferences are the models with the AI or AR magazines.

These rifles are surprisingly accurate, in spite of the bargain basement price tag.

 

[American123]

In 30-06 and 270, they seem to good bang for the buck budget rifles. Mags for them are expensive though.

 

[aflineman]

I have an older .308 Predator Compact I like. Not fond of the mags, but I need to get ahold of Ruger and see what they can help me with on those. The plastic rotary mags don't want to feed part of the time. They supposedly have changed things to make the mags work better.

 

[American123]

I have an older .308 Predator Compact I like. Not fond of the mags, but I need to get ahold of Ruger and see what they can help me with on those. The plastic rotary mags don't want to feed part of the time. They supposedly have changed things to make the mags work better.

I have older and newer mags, in the newer ones, the fins are metal instead of plastic.

 

[aflineman]

I have older and newer mags, in the newer ones, the fins are metal instead of plastic.

This is what I am hearing. Game plan is to call Ruger and see if I can order some new ones.

 

[tkdguy]

Accuracy is like what? The newer mags work well?

 

[WAYNO]

Accuracy is like what? The newer mags work well?

Including the .308, they all have shot sub-minute groups. The rotary mag works, but it just takes too much fiddling to get them inserted into the mag well. That's why my preference for A.I. style magazines.

So in fairness, if it has an A.I. magazine, it is not a Predator. My tests and reports are of the American platform, generally. And although the flush insertion of the rotary mag is pleasurable, the A.I. magazine in 3-round or 5-round, protrudes only slightly.

 

[Reno]

Had an 18” predator. Great gun. Lightweight. Smooth action. Not super high grade or anything, but for the cost, well built.

Only group I put on paper was with corlokt and it did about 1.5-2” at 100 yards using a 1-4 powered scope.

Sold it as I didn’t get around to using it for deer season and went on to something else.

Member here who bought it, took a nice bucks with it shortly after.

 

[tkdguy]

Including the .308, they all have shot sub-minute groups. The rotary mag works, but it just takes too much fiddling to get them inserted into the mag well. That's why my preference for A.I. style magazines.

So in fairness, if it has an A.I. magazine, it is not a Predator. My tests and reports are of the American platform, generally. And although the flush insertion of the rotary mag is pleasurable, the A.I. magazine in 3-round or 5-round, protrudes only slightly.

Really good info to stay away from the Rotary mag in the compact model.